Summary

The Nightingale, by Kristin Hannah, is primarily set in France during World War II. It is the story of two sisters affected by the war as France becomes a country occupied by the Nazis and forced to submit to German martial law. The sisters, years apart in age, differ in their approach to the war. Young Isabelle wishes to resist German rule at any cost while older Vianne seeks to survive and protect her family.

Chapter 1 begins on the Oregon Coast in 1995 with an unnamed older woman reflecting on the difference between her generation and the present day younger generations. As she grows closer to death she finds herself thinking about the war and those she has lost. Her memories of the past have become clearer as she ages.

She is preparing to move from her home to an assisted living facility at...